The Bride & Groom, their Friends (attendants), and the pastor all gather before the wedding. This rite fits well before the wedding rehearsal. Family may also be present.
SCRIPTURE
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you. [Isaiah 62:5]
[John the Baptist says,] “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” [John 3:29]
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. [Isaiah 61:10]
PROMISES
To the Groom:
Are these the men you have chosen to stand by your side at your wedding, to witness your vows and promises, to hold you to account, to help you in your vocation as husband, and to share with you in the joy of the wedding day?
They are.
To the Bride:
Are these the women you have chosen to stand by your side at your wedding, to witness your vows and promises, to hold you to account, to help you in your vocation as wife, and to share with you in the joy of the wedding day?
They are.
To the Friends of the Bride and Groom:
The Lord Jesus says of marriage, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Do you believe that in the solemnity of the marriage rite about to occur, and through the power of God’s Word, God Himself will join this man to his bride, and make the two into one?
I do believe it.
Are you ready to stand as a witness, to hear the vows and promises this man will make to his bride, and this woman will make to her husband?
I am ready.
Will you hold this bride and bridegroom to account through their entire life to the holy vows they will speak?
Will you help turn their hearts and minds, their strength and joy always toward home, as long as they live?
I will, with the help of God.
Will you pray for this bride and groom, for their home and family, that our Heavenly Father would bless and keep them in the security and joy of holy matrimony?
I will, with the help of God.
The Bible knows no greater joy than the joy of a wedding feast.
Are you ready for the joy of the wedding day,
the joy of God’s making two to be one,
the joy of feasting and dancing,
the joy of promises, of family, of hope,
the joy of the Garden of Eden,
the joy of the foretaste of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb?
I am ready. Lord, give me Your joy.
The pastor addresses the Friends of the Bride and Groom:
You are Friends of the Bride and Friends of the Groom. God enable you both to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with His grace fulfill what we are unable to do.
Amen.
The Friends of the Groom speak this charge to the Groom:
Husband, love your wife,
as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
Go forth to meet your Bride, in the name of the Lord!
The Friends of the Bride speak this charge to the Bride:
[Let your adornment] be the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty
of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious in the sight of God.
Go forth to meet your Groom, in the name of the Lord!
PRAYERS
The pastor prays for the Friends of the Bride and Friends of the Groom.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Friend of Sinners,
and the faithful Bridegroom who gave Yourself unto death for Your Bride, the Church.
We thank You for this wedding,
that You will give this man to his bride,
and this woman to her husband,
making them one flesh.
We thank You for these men and women called to witness this wedding,
the promises we will hear and the work that You will do.
Make them good and faithful Friends,
wise with Your Word to guide and council.
May they stand as faithful soldiers to guard and defend the family that You are establishing.
May their prayers guard this marriage.
Grant to them Your Holy Spirit
to rejoice in what You have given,
to extoll what You have instituted,
to defend what You have established,
to be wise in these difficult days,
and to have a share in the wedding feast of the Lamb that is to come. Amen.
The Friends of the Bride and Groom pray for the Bride and Groom.
Heavenly Father,
bless this man and this woman and the vows and promises they will speak to each other.
Give them humble joy in hearing and receiving the vows and promises
from the lips and heart of his bride and her bridegroom.
Make [Groom’s name] a good husband,
a wise man, a courageous protector,
and a faithful priest in their home.
Make [Bride’s name] a good wife,
a wise and compassionate woman,
and a faithful bride in their home,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Bride and Groom pray for their Friends.
Heavenly Father,
We give you thanks for the joy of our wedding day,
these Friends who will stand with us.
Give us all the wisdom of faith,
that through Your grace we might all stand together before Your glory in eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Altogether pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
BLESSING
The pastor blesses the Friends of the Bride and Groom.
Friends of the Bride, rejoice!
Friends of the Groom, rejoice!
This man becomes a husband,
This woman becomes a wife,
These two become one
and you are witnesses of this great wonder!
Therefore, my beloved brethren [and sisters],
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Amen. [1 Corinthians 15:18]
All together stand and sing:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him, all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen.